chapter 6

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the bureaucracy within the context of American and Texas government.

General attitudes towards bureaucracy

Public perception of bureaucracy is often characterized by a mix of necessity and frustration, frequently associated with inefficiency, 'red tape,' and impersonal service. However, bureaucracy is also recognized as essential for the implementation of complex policies and the delivery of public services.

Budget maximizers

A concept, notably advanced by William Niskanen, suggesting that bureaucrats act as 'budget maximizers,' seeking to increase the funding, size, and scope of their agencies, often to enhance their own power, prestige, and job security.

Bureaucracy

A large, complex administrative system composed of appointed officials responsible for implementing laws, administering programs, and providing specialized services. It is characterized by hierarchical authority, job specialization, and formalized rules.

Bureaucrat

An official in a bureaucracy, typically a non-elected government employee who works in a department or agency and is responsible for carrying out specific tasks according to established rules and procedures.

Bureaucratic drift

The phenomenon where bureaucrats, in the process of implementing policies, deviate from the original policy goals or intentions set by the legislature or the executive branch. This can occur due to agency preferences, expertise, or influences from interest groups.

Central clearance

A process managed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that reviews all legislative proposals, regulations, and testimony originating from executive branch agencies before they are submitted to Congress or formally published. Its aim is to ensure consistency with the President's policy agenda.

Civil servants

Employees of government agencies who are hired and promoted based on merit rather than political patronage. They constitute the permanent professional workforce of the government, providing continuity and expertise across administrations.

Federal Civil service

The system of permanent, professional civilian employees in the U.S. federal government, excluding military personnel, political appointees, and elected officials. Employment is typically based on competitive examinations and merit principles established by the Pendleton Act.

Fire alarm oversight

A reactive form of congressional oversight where Congress responds to complaints or problems that arise from a bureaucratic agency's actions. Rather than routinely monitoring, Congress waits for 'alarms' (e.g., media reports, constituent complaints, interest group lobbying) before investigating.

Garfield assassination

The assassination of President James A. Garfield in 1881 by a disgruntled office seeker. This event highlighted the dangers and inefficiencies of the 'spoils system' and directly led to civil service reform with the passage of the Pendleton Act in 1883.

Hatch Act

A federal law passed in 1939 (and amended in 1993) that restricts the political activities of federal employees. It aims to ensure that the federal civil service is politically neutral and that government resources are not used for partisan political purposes. Prohibits federal employees from engaging in political campaigns while on duty or in uniform.

Impact of laws like the Pure Food and Drug Act

Landmark legislation (1906) that demonstrated the expanding role of the federal bureaucracy in regulating the economy and protecting public health. It created the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement and enforce standards, marking a shift towards a more active regulatory state.

Job of the Bureaucracy

The primary functions of the bureaucracy include implementing laws and policies, administering government programs, providing specialized services, regulating private sector activities, and gathering information and expertise to advise political leaders.

Merit system

A system of public employment in which selection and promotion are based on demonstrated performance and qualifications rather than political patronage or personal connections. It aims to ensure a competent and politically neutral civil service.

Notice and comment procedure

A formal process required by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), where federal agencies must publish proposed rules in the Federal Register and allow interested parties (the public, businesses, advocacy groups) a period to submit comments and feedback before a final rule is adopted. This ensures transparency and public input in rulemaking.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

A key agency within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) responsible for preparing the President's annual budget proposal to Congress, reviewing all executive branch regulations and legislative proposals, and overseeing the management and performance of federal agencies.

Organization of bureaucracy (corporations, departments, independent agencies)

Federal bureaucracy is broadly organized into: 1. Cabinet Departments: Major functional units (e.g., Defense, State) headed by a Secretary. 2. Independent Executive Agencies: Agencies outside executive departments, reporting directly to the President (e.g., NASA, EPA). 3. Independent Regulatory Commissions: Agencies designed to regulate specific economic activities, largely independent of presidential influence (e.g., FCC, SEC). 4. Government Corporations: Businesses run by the government to provide services that could be provided by private companies but are often considered essential or unprofitable (e.g., Amtrak, USPS).

Oversight

The process by which Congress, the President, and the judiciary monitor the implementation of laws and the activities of the bureaucracy to ensure that agencies are acting legally, efficiently, and in accordance with legislative intent and public interest.

Patronage/spoils system

A system of awarding government jobs, contracts, or other favors to political supporters, friends, or relatives, regardless of their qualifications. Prevalent in the U.S. before civil service reform, it was largely replaced by the merit system.

Pendleton Act

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, which established the federal merit system for hiring and promotion in the civil service. It created the Civil Service Commission (now the Office of Personnel Management) to administer entrance exams and ensure appointments were based on competence.

Police patrol oversight

A proactive form of congressional oversight where Congress constantly monitors bureaucratic agencies to detect and prevent problems or deviations from legislative intent. This involves regular hearings, investigations, and direct engagement with agencies, similar to a police officer patrolling a beat.

Political appointees

Individuals chosen by the President to hold high-level positions within a bureaucratic agency, such as cabinet secretaries, agency heads, and ambassadors. These positions do not require competitive examinations and serve at the pleasure of the President, typically departing with a change in administration.

Power the branches have to control bureaucracy

Congress exercises control through legislation (creating agencies, setting budgets), oversight (hearings, investigations), and confirmation (of presidential appointees). The President controls through appointments, executive orders, budget proposals, and reorganization. The judiciary controls through judicial review of agency actions and interpretations of law.

Power of bureaucracy over implementing policy

Bureaucracies wield significant power in policy implementation through their expertise, discretion in interpreting ambiguous laws, rule-making authority (creating regulations with the force of law), and control over details through standard operating procedures. This allows them to shape how laws are applied in practice.

Principal-agent game

A model used to analyze the relationship between a 'principal' (e.g., Congress or the President) who delegates authority and resources, and an 'agent' (e.g., a bureaucratic agency) who carries out the tasks. The game highlights potential conflicts of interest and the challenges principals face in monitoring and controlling agents (e.g., 'bureaucratic drift').

Privatization

The process of transferring governmental services, assets, or enterprises to the private sector. This can involve contracting out services, selling government-owned corporations, or allowing private companies to perform functions previously handled by public agencies, often with the aim of increasing efficiency.

Problems of control regulation

Challenges in effective regulation include: regulatory capture (when regulated industries influence the agency meant to regulate them), unforeseen economic costs, unintended consequences, information asymmetry (regulators lacking full information), and the difficulty of balancing competing public and private interests.

Red tape

An idiom referring to excessive bureaucracy or rigid conformity to formal rules and regulations, often perceived as unnecessary, inefficient, and hindering action. It typically involves complex administrative procedures, paperwork, and delays.

Role of Civil Service in government

The civil service provides continuity, expertise, and a degree of impartiality in government operations. It implements policies, delivers public services, advises political leaders, and ensures that government functions regardless of changes in political leadership, upholding the merit principle over partisanship.

Rule making

The process by which administrative agencies formulate, amend, or repeal rules (regulations) that have the force of law. This involves publishing proposed rules, soliciting public comment, and issuing final rules, often guided by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

Standard operating procedure (SOP)

Detailed, written instructions or protocols that describe how to perform a routine activity. SOPs ensure consistency, efficiency, and fairness in bureaucratic operations by providing clear guidelines for agents and reducing discretion.

State capacity

The ability of a government to effectively implement its policies, enforce its laws, provide public goods and services (e.g., infrastructure, education, security), collect taxes, and maintain order within its territory. High state capacity generally means a more effective and stable government.

Street-level bureaucrat

Public service workers who interact directly with citizens in their daily work, such as police officers, teachers, social workers, and DMV employees. They have significant discretion in how they apply policies and laws, directly influencing citizens' experience with government.

What do bureaucrats do?

Bureaucrats perform a wide range of functions, including: implementing and enforcing laws and regulations, delivering public services, providing expertise and information, administering government programs, making rules, and adjudicating disputes through administrative courts.

Whistle-blowing

The act of an employee or former employee reporting misconduct (such as illegal, unethical, or wasteful activities) within an organization, especially a government agency, to the public or to authorities outside the organization. Whistleblowers are often protected by law due to the public interest in such disclosures.